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US expert hails India’s efforts in containing HIV/AIDS

Ambassador Eric Goosby, who is United States Global AIDS Coordinator.-Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

India’s efforts in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS have been hailed by Ambassador Eric Goosby, who is United States Global AIDS Coordinator and leads the new Office of Global Health Diplomacy at the US Department of State.

Dr. Goosby oversees implementation of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as well as US Government’s engagement with the Global Fund to Fight, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

On a visit to India, he interacted with officials from Central Government and National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) at Delhi on Wednesday and re-affirmed US Government’s support to India’s initiatives.

Talking to reporters after visiting Gandhi Hospital here on Thursday, he said the effective response put forth by the Indian government in targeting high-risk groups like commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals and people injecting drugs had blunted the spread of the disease.

The Government aggressively targeted the high-risk groups and implemented preventive efforts.

He said that over the past nine years, the US Government had provided a financial assistance of more than $ 200 million to the programmes in India.

‘Smart and targeted’

Describing the interventions as “smart and targeted”, Dr. Goosby said India was becoming the teacher to other countries in Africa and elsewhere in controlling HIV/AIDS epidemic.

He said the Indian Government sought continued support from PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

PEPFAR is the US Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world.

“This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across global health spectrum”, a press release said.

‘Over the past nine years, the US Government has provided a financial assistance of more than $ 200 million to the programmes in India’

India’s efforts in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS have been hailed by Ambassador Eric Goosby, who is United States Global AIDS Coordinator and leads the new Office of Global Health Diplomacy at the US Department of State.

Dr. Goosby oversees implementation of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as well as US Government’s engagement with the Global Fund to Fight, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

On a visit to India, he interacted with officials from Central Government and National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) at Delhi on Wednesday and re-affirmed US Government’s support to India’s initiatives.

Talking to reporters after visiting Gandhi Hospital here on Thursday, he said the effective response put forth by the Indian government in targeting high-risk groups like commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals and people injecting drugs had blunted the spread of the disease.

The Government aggressively targeted the high-risk groups and implemented preventive efforts.

He said that over the past nine years, the US Government had provided a financial assistance of more than $ 200 million to the programmes in India.

‘Smart and targeted’

Describing the interventions as “smart and targeted”, Dr. Goosby said India was becoming the teacher to other countries in Africa and elsewhere in controlling HIV/AIDS epidemic.

He said the Indian Government sought continued support from PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

PEPFAR is the US Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world.

“This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across global health spectrum”, a press release said.